Joel David Zelkowitz

Joel David Zelkowitz

5.0
Rating: 7.9

Licensed for 12 years

Insurance Lawyer at New York, NY
Practice Areas: Insurance, Employee Benefits, Litigation

110 E. 42 St., Suite 1418, New York, NY

About Joel

Biography

Practice Areas

Fees and Rates

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Licenses

Licensed in New York for 8 years

State: New York

Acquired: 2018

Due to Reregister within 30 days of Birthday

No misconduct found

Licensed in New Jersey for 12 years

State: New Jersey

Acquired: 2014

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in Pennsylvania for 12 years

State: Pennsylvania

Acquired: 2014

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Riemer Hess LLC

110 E. 42 St., Suite 1418, New York, NY, 10017

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Joel David Zelkowitz's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

12 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (12) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Star rating
5 stars 12
4 stars 0
3 stars 0
2 stars 0
1 star 0
Practice Areas

Showing 6 - 10 of 12 reviews

Posted by Kris | March 03, 2026 | Hired Attorney

Excellent Representation & Legal Support

Joel handled everything with my disability claim with professionalism. He was very personable, honest, attentive, hard working & clear throughout the entire process. He gave me a great piece of mind throughout the whole time he worked on my claim. I would definitely recommend him.

Posted by jonathan | March 02, 2026 | Hired Attorney

Highly recommended

Joel was responsive, strategic, and clear throughout the entire process. He explained complex insurance issues in plain language and handled everything with professionalism and confidence. I felt well represented and would absolutely recommend him.

Posted by anonymous | February 27, 2026 | Hired Attorney

Years of Excellent Legal Guidance and Support

I have worked with my disability lawyer for many years, and I cannot recommend him highly enough. Throughout the entire process, he has been consistently supportive, proactive, and truly dedicated to my case. He is always quick to return my messages, readily available — even on his cell phone when... needed — and takes the time to explain everything clearly. His responsiveness and accessibility have made what can be a very stressful process much easier to navigate. In addition to providing excellent legal representation, his fees have always been fair and reasonable. It is rare to find an attorney who combines professionalism, compassion, efficiency, and integrity so seamlessly. I am deeply grateful for his ongoing support and highly recommend him to anyone seeking a knowledgeable and dependable disability attorney.

Posted by Ben | February 27, 2026 | Hired Attorney

EXCELLENT REPRESENTATION AND RESULT

I was recently represented by Joel in a suit against my disability insurance carrier. Joel was attentive, professional, and was always available to answer any questions and address any concerns that I had. I was also very pleased with the settlement that he got for me. He was very personable as well.... I would highly recommend him.

Posted by anonymous | January 05, 2025 | Hired Attorney

Excellent help with my Disability Insurance Claim!

Joel D. Zelkowitz, Esq. represented me with a disability insurance claim, and I am so thankful I was referred to him. He was excellent! He helped make the process simple and straightforward. He guided me along at each step, making sure that everything was done correctly and effectively. Ultimately, w...e had a positive outcome, and I don't think I could have done it as successfully or easily without him. I HIGHLY recommend him and the firm.

See All Client Reviews

Joel David Zelkowitz's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Joel
Ryan James McIntyre headshot
Ryan McIntyre

Employee benefits lawyer | Jun 05

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I have had the pleasure of working with Joel on multiple ERISA long term disability matters. He is also well versed in individual disability insurance policies and long term care policies. Joel is incredibly knowledgeable in these areas of law and works tirelessly to ensure that his clients are paid what they are owed under their insurance policies."

Jennifer B. Manger headshot
Jennifer Manger

Employee benefits lawyer | Jun 04

Relationship: Co-worker

"I have had the privilege of working with Joel on several ERISA long-term disability cases, including highly complex litigation matters. He consistently brings thoughtful analysis, strategic insight, and a deep understanding of ERISA law to every case. Equally impressive is his ability to communicate effectively with clients. He explains complicated legal concepts clearly and handles sensitive discussions with compassion, kindness, and respect. His professionalism and client-centered approach make him an exceptional advocate and colleague."

Samantha E Wladich headshot
Samantha Wladich

Employee benefits lawyer | Jun 03

Relationship: Co-worker

"I have had the opportunity to work with Joel on several long-term disability cases. He is very knowledgeable in this area of law, responsive to clients' needs, and committed to achieving positive outcomes. His professionalism and practical approach make him a pleasure to work with and a valuable resource for individuals facing disability insurance challenges."

Paul Michael Kampfer headshot
Paul Kampfer

Employee benefits lawyer | Mar 03

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have had the pleasure of knowing Joel for a number of years. Like myself, Joel practices Long-Term Disability Insurance Law (among other things). We routinely discuss cases and bounce ideas off of one another. I have found that Joel consistently demonstrates strong insight into the law, excellent judgment, and a thorough understanding of both legal strategy and client needs. He is a dedicated and effective advocate for his clients."

Jennifer Hess headshot
Jennifer Hess

Employee benefits lawyer | Feb 25

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I had the opportunity to work with Joel Zelkowitz as co-counsel on a challenging ERISA disability case, and together we achieved an excellent result for our client. Joel is thoughtful, strategic, and highly effective in his approach. He understands both the legal framework and the practical realities of disability claims and litigation. I have known Joel for approximately eight years, and throughout that time he has consistently demonstrated professionalism, sound judgment, and strong advocacy skills. He is well respected in the ERISA and individual disability insurance space for good reason. Joel is someone I would confidently work with again and recommend to clients and colleagues alike."

View All Endorsements
Paul Michael Kampfer headshot
Paul Kampfer

Insurance lawyer

Jennifer Hess headshot
Jennifer Hess

Insurance lawyer

Experience

Rating:  7.9 (Very Good)

Work Experience

2026 - Present

Partner, Riemer Hess LCC

2016 - 2026

Attorney, Usher, Quiat, Uscher & Russo, P.C.

Sample of Legal Cases

Choi v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of Am., CV 24-06338-JKS-AME

Scholz v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 1:19-cv-00558-CM

BRUDIE et al v. UNITED AIRLINES HOLDINGS, INC. et al, 1:23-cv-02168-CPO-AMD

MOGERMAN v. NEW ENGLAND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY et al., 1:23-cv-02168-CPO-AMD

CULLINANE v. USABLE LIFE, 2:25-cv-12173-ES-MAH

See More Legal Cases

Education

2013

Temple University Beasley School of Law

J.D.

Publications

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

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What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution